Collapsible crate



Jan. 7, 1936. A. N. DEDMON COLLAPS IBLE CRATE Filed May 2, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor ijZfdman f-'f Attorney,

Jan.7, 1936. VANDEDWDN 2,026,871'

COLLAPS IBLE CRATE Filed May 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J- /f Inventm-{WpmozM Attomey Patented( Jan. 7, 1936 r UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrnce 4Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible crate, the general object of theinvention being to provide a vcrate which can be constructed to sell atlowcost and which can be readily knocked down and set up and. when setup being held in this position by four pins placed at the upper cornersof the crate and covered by the top of the crate when the same is inposition.

This invention also consists in certain other featuresof constructionand in the combination vand arrangement of several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a View of the crate before being set upl Figure 2 is avertical longitudinal sectional View of the crate.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view through a lower corner of the crate.

Figure 6 is detail perspective view of an upper corner showing how thepin engages two of the bars.

As shown in these drawings the crate is composed of a plurality ofstrips I of veneer slightly spaced apart and connected at their ends tothe bars 2 and to the intermediate bars 3, and a number of strips 5 ofveneer which extend at right angles to the strips I and across thecentral portions of these strips, the strips 5 being connected adjacenttheir ends to the bars 6 and adjacent the outermost strips I to thebars 1. Each strip I is provided with a pair of transverse grooves 8 inits inner face, these grooves being spaced slightly inwardly of the bars3 as shown in Figure 4 and each strip 5 is formed with a pair oftransverse grooves 9 which are the bottom of the crate and the bars 'Iwill extend across the ends of the crate adjacent the bottom thereofwhile the bars 2 will extend across the upper edge of the sides of thecrate and the bars 5 will extend across the upper portions of the endsof the crate but these bars 5 will be spaced below the bars 2 with theends of the two sets of bars overlapping as shown in Figure 6. Theseoverlapping ends are formed with holes as shown at 9 in Figure 6 forreceiving the pins or nails l0 so that these nails hold the crate inupright position and when the crate is to be knocked .down it is simplynecessary to remove the four pins or nails. At each weakened line 8 ametal strip Ii is secured to the outer face of the strip to reinforcethe strip at and adjacent the weakened parts and battens I2 extendtransversely across the bottom of the crate at the ends thereof andnails or the like shown at I3 extend through the battens into the stripsII and into portions of the bottom forming strips of veneer. Thoseportions of the strips II which extend up the sides and ends of thecrate are held in place between the veneer strips and the lower bars bythe staples I4 or other suitable fastening means which connect theVeneer strips to the bars. This is clearly shown in Figure 5.

A top member I5 composed of longitudinally extending veneer strips I6and end bars I'I to which the strips I6 are connected, is detachablyconnected to the side bars 2 by the bendable members I8 carried by thetop member and passing through staples or eyes I9 projecting from thebars 2. As shown in Figure 2 the end bars il of the top member rest uponthe bars 6 of the ends of the crate and t in the space formed by thesebars 6 and the upper ends of the strips 5. Transverse extending battens26 extend across the upper face of the covei` member and the members I8may be connected to these battens.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a crate which can bemanufactured to sell at low cost and which is heldin assembled positionby the four nails or pins l0 so that by removing these pins the cratecan be collapsed and by the use of these pins either side or ends can bedropped to open position and the top can be removed so that the contentsof the crate can very easily be inspected.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided

